Dear BX,
I have really long, thick brown hair – not curly, but not straight. When I go to the salon, my stylist always uses a round bristle brush – but I’ve always read in magazines that I’m supposed to use a flat paddle brush. I’m not a professional hair stylist, but I do want volume and lift and STYLE! Is the paddle brush just for amateurs?
-Nancy Knap
What sophisticated woman doesn’t love a little LV (lift and volume) to give her hair some flair? The unfortunate thing is…you’re doing the exact opposite of what it takes to get a bountiful, bouncy style!
While paddle brushes are fantastic for straightening and smoothing, they really don’t do much at all in the way of lift. Think about it — unless you’re a pro at your technique, most likely, you’re pushing your hair down against your head when using a paddle brush, so you’re smoothing down the hair to create a sleek look. This is really great for sleek styles like bobs and straight-across or geometric hair styles, but for bouncing layers, a round brush can really give vixens the va-va-voom volume they crave.
When it comes to using a round bristle brush that really pleases, size matters. We’re talking about brush barrel sizes, of course! The bigger the barrel, the bigger the bounce. For the most part, larger brush barrel sizes (about three inches) will work best on medium to long hair, creating big, soft waves (think Eva Mendes). Medium to smaller barrel sizes will create more defined curls and are ideal for shorter hair.
In addition to size, the brush’s construction makes a difference. Bristles are made from either wire (metal and or metal with plastic round tips), synthetic (nylon and plastic) or natural hair (often boar’s hair), and the barrel itself can be metal or ceramic. Wire and synthetic bristles are reported to cause static and can be harsher on sensitive scalps or fine hair, while some sensitive ladies find that natural bristle are just too soft on their thick hair, so you’ll really need to feel the bristles yourself to determine your personal preference.
That all said, everyone is different, and if you find a brush that works for you, just use it and disregard what everyone says you’re “supposed” to use! Rules are meant to be broken, right?
Do you have a burning beauty or style question? Ask BX!
Photos: Round brush – Conair; Paddle brush – The Body Shop; Different-sized brushes – Marcelo Moura
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